7 Foot-Long, 350 Pound Baby Born After 18 Month Pregnancy

SeaWorld Orlando is making room for baby as the park welcomed a new baby killer whale to the Shamu family Monday, February 9.

The calf's mother, Kalina, gave birth to the 7-foot-long, 350-pound newborn at 10:10 PM in SeaWorld Orlando's multimillion-gallon research and breeding facility, Shamu Stadium, following a seven-hour labor. Moments later, the baby whale instinctively swam to the surface of the water for its first breath of air. The calf began nursing within hours.

This is the fourth calf born to Kalina, a 17½ foot-long, 6,000-pound killer whale. SeaWorld animal care specialists remain cautiously optimistic about the progress of the baby and its mother. The sex of the calf is yet to be determined.

SeaWorld visitors can catch a glimpse of the park's new pride and joy during special family presentations at Shamu Stadium.

Kalina was the first killer whale ever to be born and successfully raised in the care of man. She was born at SeaWorld Orlando on Sept. 26, 1985. SeaWorld's killer whale breeding program is the most successful in the world.

This calf is the 19th killer whale to be born and successfully raised at SeaWorld parks in Orlando, FL, San Diego, CA and San Antonio, TX. Twelve of those whales, including this calf, have been born at SeaWorld Orlando.